Removable container lid with integral folding handle



Sept. 17, 1968 w. A. MESSINA 3,

REMOVABLE CONTAINER LID WITH INTEGRAL FOLDING HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1967 m Z 0 a 2 mm Wm H. 4 "Km w MOM/w r M/ 0 N M 2 fl M -Y Bhn'nBuc/des, (esaiu $620 P 1968 w. A. MESSINA 3,401,827

REMOVABLE CONTAINER LID WITH INTEGRAL FOLDING HANDLE Filed July 5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W4 llalm ll/Wessma United States Patent 3,401,827 REMOVABLE CONTAINER LID WITH INTEGRAL FOLDING HANDLE William A. Messina, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Atlantic Plastics, Inc., Stamford, Conn. Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 650,831 3 Claims. (Cl. 22094) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is an integrally molded, removable plastic lid for containers such as vacuum sealed containers for coffee, shortening or the like. A handle is integrally molded with the lid to aid in handling heavy or bulky containers, and a flexible hinge permits the handle to fold flat against the lid to facilitate container stacking; apertures on the handle frictionally engage with protrusions on the lid top to secure the handle in its flat, folded condition. Means are also provided to cushion the users hand from sharp plastic edges of the handle.

Background of the invention Foodstuffs such as coffee and shortening have long been packaged in vacuum-sealed metal containers in order to preserve their freshness during shipment, storage and on the market shelves. Until recently, however, the consumer has been faced with a problem in preserving the freshness of such foodstuffs once the vacuum-sealed container has been opened. Now, food packagers are including with many such vacuum-sealed metal containers a removable plastic lid. Once the container has been opened, these lids are employed to securely seal the open end between uses.

The availability of such lids has significantly lengthened the period during which selected foodstuffs can be maintained fresh on the consumers shelf. As a result, food packagers are now able to market larger containers of certain foodstuffs than heretofore possible since consumers need no longer fear that spoilage may occur before the larger quantity of product can be consumed.

A problem is encountered, however, in that the larger container sizes are heavy and bulky and therefore diflicult to handle. The difiiculty is compounded since protrusions or other aids to handling are not feasible on the side walls of such containers; they must be kept relatively smooth and cylindrical to withstand the subatmospheric internal pressure resulting from vacuum packaging, and to facilitate shipment. In addition, protruding handles or the like cannot be placed on the top or bottom surfaces of such containers since they must be stacked on supermarket shelves in order to be properly and economically displayed.

The expendable nature of vacuum-sealed metal containers for consumer products raises yet a further problem in that any aid to the handling of such containers must lend itself to easy and inexpensive mass production processes.

Accordingly, representative objects of the present'invention are to provide a removable container lid which greatly facilitates the handling of its associated container without deleteriously affecting the shipment or storage characteristics thereof, and which can be easily and inexpensively mass produced.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

fit

3,491,82 7 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 Summary of the invention The present invention relates to an integrally molded plastic container lid for use in sealing containers for coffee, shortening or the like. A handle forms an integral part of the lid of the invention so that the lid may serve as an aid to the handling of its associated container.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the lid of the invention shown generally at 10 comprises a top 12 of circular configuration surrounded by an adge 14 which is adapted to securely grip and seal the periphery of an associated container 16. A handle shown generally at 18 is integrally molded with lid 10 and is connected to top 12 through a flexible hinge shown generally at 20. The flexibility of hinge 20 permits handle 18 to be folded flat against top 12 so that a number of containers covered with lids in accordance with the invention can be stacked for storage or display. Means more fully described below are provided to maintain the handle 18 secure in its flat, folded condition against top 12.

The lid of the invention is integrally molded from a plastic material, preferably from a polyolefin such as polyethylene. The integrally molded structure of the lid of the invention permits it to be easily and inexpensively mass produced for the consumer market, while providing a strong and reliable lid which efliciently performs its desired functions of both sealing and aiding in the handling of an associated container.

Brief description of the drawings For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a container lid in accordance with the invention, shown in place on an associated container.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial front elevation view of the lid of FIGURE 1 shown partially in section.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial front elevation view of another embodiment of the lid of the invention shown partially in section.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Description 0) the preferred embodiments Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the handle '18 of lid 10 comprises a cross-piece 22 integrally formed with a support member 24 so that the two define a central aperture 26 for receipt of the users hand. An enlarged head 28 (FIGURE 4) is preferably provided along the inner edge of cross-piece 22 facing aperture 26 to cushion the users hand from any sharp plastic edges.

Handle 18 is integrally connected to a flexible surface 30 of top 12 which is recessed below edge 14. A flexible hinge 20 comprising a web of reduced cross section 32 (FIGURE 3) joins support member 24 and the flexible surface 30. As shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 3 the flexibility of web 32 permits handle 18 to be folded flat against top 12, where it lies flush within the recess 33 formed by surface 30 and edge 14. Thus positioned, handle 18 will not interfere with the stacking of containers carrying the lid of the invention.

Means are provided to securely maintain handle '18 in 3 its fiat, folded condition within recess 33 so that it will not accidentally protrude. Preferably, a pair of apertures 34 and 36 are provided adjacent either end of cross-piece 22. A pair of protrusions 38 and 40 are provided on surface within recess 33 in position to register with the respective corresponding aperture 34 or 36 when handle 18 is folded flat as shown in FIGURE 4. The diameters of protrusions 38 and 40 are so correlated with the bores of apertures 34 and 36 that a tight frictional engagement occurs therebetween when handle 18 is folded flat. The frictional force so provided will maintain handle 18 in its fiat folded condition for efficient stacking, storage, or shipment of containers carrying the lid of the invention.

In applications where handle 18 is not required to lie perfectly flat, a single aperture may be provided at substantially the center of cross-piece 22, and a single corresponding protrusion may be appropriately positioned on surface 30 within recess 33. The single aperture and protrusion function in a manner essentially similar to the double aperture and protrusion structure of FIGURE 1, except that there is some tendency for the ends of cross-piece 22 to curl upwardly from within recess 33.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the edge 14 of lid 10 comprises a raised shelf 42 completely surrounding flexible surface 30. Preferably, an upstanding abutment 44 runs completely around the surface of shelf 42. The purpose of abutment 44 is to engage with the bottom of a container stacked above lid 10 and thereby impede relative lateral movement. The interlocking effect thus produced facilitates the efficient stacking of containers by inhibiting slippage which would otherwise results in containers falling from their stacked positions.

Still referring to FIGURE 3, an overhanging skirt 46 completely surrounds and depends from shelf 42. Shelf 42 and skirt 46 together form, on the bottom surface of lid 10, an annular recess 48 for receipt of the open end of an associated container.

An inwardly protruding ledge 50 runs around the inner surface of skirt 46. Ledge 50 is constructed to interlock with a corresponding lip 51 (FIGURE 3) on the open end of an associated container so that lid 10 can be snapped on to seal said container between uses. Further, the interlock between ledge 50 and the lip 51 of the container keeps the combination intact when it is lifted by handle 18. The flexible nature of surface 30 enhances this interlock between ledge 50 and container lip 5-1. Upon lifting of the lid-container combination with handle 18, the container weight pulling downwardly cause flexible surface 30 to bow upwardly; this in turn causes edge 14 to be drawn more lightly about the periphery of the container, forcing ledge 50 to even more securely engage the corresponding lip 51 thereon. Thus, the lid of the invention automatically compensates for heavier containers by providing for more gripping force to be exerted thereon in lifting.

Referring to FIGURE 5, there is shown another embodirnent of the lid of the invention. The handle 52 of this embodiment comprises a cross-piece 54, integrally connected at its ends to a pair of support members 56 and 58 through webs 60 and '62 of reduced cross section (FIGURES 6 and 7). Support members 56 and 58 are integrally attached to flexible surface 30 respectively by flexible hinges 64 and 66. As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, hinges 64 and 66 each comprise a web of reduced cross section. The flexibility of hinges 64 and 66 permit handle 52 to be folded flat within recess 33 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6.

To maintain handle 52 secure in its fiat, folded position there is provided a single aperture 68 on cross-piece 54 and a corresponding single protrusion 70 on surface 30 as shown in FIGURE 5. Protrusion 70 and aperture 68 frictionally engage (FIGURE 6) in the same manner as hereinabove described for the corresponding members of the embodiment of FIGURE 1. It will also be understood that a plurality of apertures and corresponding pro- 4 trusions may be provided in this embodiment where it is desirable that handle 52 be held extremely flat.

As shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 7, the webs 60 and 62 permit cross-piece 54 to twist or rotate so that one flat surface 72 may lie generally parallel to the surface of lid 10. Such rotation of cross-piece 54 will occur when a container carrying lid 10 is lifted by means of handle 52. Rotation of cross-piece 54 permits flat surface 72 to rest against the users hand, thus cushioning same from any sharp plastic edges.

The edge 14 surrounding the lid of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5 is identical in structure and function to the edge 14 of the lid embodiment shown in FIG- URE 3.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An integrally molded, removable, plastic container lid comprising, in combination:

(A) a top having (1) a recessed central area for receiving a folded handle and (2) a peripheral edge adapted to securely grip and seal the periphery of a container,

(B) a foldable handle centrally mounted in said recessed area comprising (1) an integral cross-piece and support member defining a central aperture for the users hand,

(a) said cross-piece having an enlarged head on the edge thereof adjacent to the upper portion of said central opening for cushioning the users hand,

(b) said support member being integrally connected to said top within the center portion of the recess thereof by a flexible hinge comprising a web of reduced cross-section centered in said recess, and

(c) said support member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed leg portions extending upwardly at an acute angle from opposite ends of said hinge when said handle is in its unfolded upright position,

(i) said angular leg portions integrally connecting with a pair of substantially vertical end portions connected to the upper portion of said cross piece and forming therebetween said central aperture for the users hand,

(C) means for securing said handle in its folded condition against said top comprising (1) at least one aperture in said crosspiece, and

(2) at least one protrusion on said top within said recess in position to frictionally engage said aperture when said handle is folded, whereby said handle may be secured substantially flat against said top within said recess to facilitate shipment, storage and stacking of containers having said lid thereon.

2. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said top is flexible, whereby in use said handle causes flexure of said top and a resultant tightening grip by said edge about the periphery of an associated container.

3. A lid as defined in claim 1 having a pair of said aper- 5 tures, one adjacent either end of said cross-piece, and a 3,140,038 pair of said protrusions each in position to frictionally 3,215,299 engage one said aperture. 3,248,002 3,260,344 References Cited 5 3,324,997 3,325,044

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,860 7/1962 Harvey.

5 Laguerre 22962 XR Coanda et a1. 150-12 XR Song. Doyle. Bonanno. McCutcheon 220-94 RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner. 

